(A) Title. This chapter shall be officially known and cited as the Water Use Ordinance of Lake County, Illinois. References made herein to "this chapter" shall be interpreted as referring to the Water Use Ordinance.
(B) Authority. This chapter is adopted pursuant to the statutory authority conferred by the Illinois Counties Code, 55 ILCS 5, including without limitation Division 5-15 of such Code (55 ILCS 5/5-15001 et seq.).
(C) Applicability and jurisdiction. This chapter shall apply to all premises served or supplied by public water systems owned and operated by Lake County.
(D) Minimum requirements. The standards of this chapter are minimum requirements. The issuance of any permit, certificate or approval in accordance with the standards and requirements of this chapter shall not relieve the recipient of such permit, certificate or approval from the responsibility of complying with all other applicable requirements of any other local, county, state or federal agency, having jurisdiction over the structures or land uses for which the permit, certificate or approval was issued.
(E) Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to define and set forth the regulations of the county concerning connection to, use, and maintenance of its public water supply system and inspection and maintenance of water services connected directly or indirectly thereto.
(F) Word usages and construction of language.
(1) Meanings and intent. All provisions, terms, phrases and expressions contained in this chapter shall be construed according to the purpose set out in division (E).
(2) Headings, illustrations and text. In case of any difference of meaning or implication between the text of this chapter and any heading, drawing, table, figure, or illustration, the text shall control unless such heading, drawing, table, figure, or illustration is deemed by the Public Works Director to provide greater protection to the safe, efficient, and effective operation of the public water supply system.
(3) Lists and examples. Unless otherwise specifically indicated, lists of items or examples that use terms such as "including," "such as," or similar language are intended to provide examples. They are not intended to be exhaustive lists of all possibilities.
(4) Computation of time. The time in which an act is to be done shall be computed by excluding the first day and including the last day. If the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday observed by the county, that day shall be excluded.
(5) References to other regulations, publications and documents. Whenever reference is made to a resolution, ordinance, statute, regulation, or document, that reference shall be construed as referring to the most recent edition of such resolution, ordinance, statute, regulation, or document or to the relevant successor document, unless otherwise expressly stated.
(6) Delegation of authority. Whenever a provision requires the head of a department or another officer or employee of the county to perform an act or duty, that provision shall be construed as authorizing such officer, department head or employee to delegate that responsibility to others over whom they have supervisory authority.
(7) Technical and nontechnical terms. Words and phrases shall be construed according to the common and approved usage of the language, but technical words and phrases that may have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law shall be construed and understood according to such meaning. (See also division (I), "Definitions.")
(8) Public officials and agencies. All public officials, bodies, and agencies to which references are made are those of Lake County, unless otherwise expressly provided.
(9) Mandatory and discretionary terms. The words "shall," "will," and "must" are mandatory, unless the context clearly indicates the contrary. The words "may" and "should" are advisory and discretionary terms.
(10) Conjunctions. Unless the context clearly suggests the contrary, conjunctions shall be interpreted as follows:
(a) "And" indicates that all connected items, conditions, provisions, or events apply; and
(b) "Or" indicates that one or more of the connected items, conditions, provisions, or events may apply.
(11) Tenses and plurals. Words used in one tense (past, present, or future) include all other tenses, unless the context clearly indicates the contrary. The singular includes the plural, and the plural includes the singular.
(12) Numerical calculations. Unless otherwise specifically indicated, for standards involving the use of numbers, all calculations shall be rounded to the nearest hundredths.
(G) Conflicting provisions.
(1) Conflict with state or federal regulations. If the provisions of this chapter are inconsistent with those of the state or federal government, the more restrictive provision shall control, to the extent permitted by law.
(2) Conflict with other county regulations. If the provisions of this chapter are inconsistent with one another, or if they conflict with provisions found in other adopted ordinances or regulations of the county, the more restrictive provision will control. No text amendment, variance or condition of approval placed on a permit or other form of county approval under this chapter shall have the effect of nullifying, abrogating or diminishing the provisions of any other county ordinance.
(H) Transitional provisions.
(1) Violations continue. Any violation of the previous water use regulations of the county shall continue to be a violation under this chapter and shall be subject to penalties and enforcement under § 52.99, unless the use, construction or other activity is consistent with the express terms of this chapter, in which case enforcement action shall cease, except to the extent of collecting penalties for violations that occurred before the adoption of this chapter.
(I) Definitions. Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meaning of terms used in this chapter shall be as follows:
ADMINISTRATOR. The Administrator of the USEPA.
AGENCY. Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
AGENCY DIRECTOR. The Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
APPROVED BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE. Any backflow prevention device or method authorized under the Illinois Plumbing Code, 77 Ill. Adm. Code 890 and the Agency.
APPROVING AUTHORITY. The County Board of Lake County, Illinois.
AUXILIARY WATER SYSTEM. Any water source or system on or available to the premises other than the public water supply system and includes the water supplied by the system. These auxiliary waters may include water from another purveyor's public water supply system; or water from a source such as wells, lakes, or streams, or process fluids; or used water. These waters may be polluted or contaminated or objectionable or constitute a water source or system over which the county does not have control.
BACKFLOW. The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures, or substances into the distribution pipes of a public water supply system from any source other than the intended source of the public water supply system.
B-BOX. A valve box used to access a corporation stop. Also called a BUFFALO BOX or SHUT-OFF BOX.
CLOSED-LOOP AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. An air conditioning system in which the heat exchange fluid is used in more than one cooling cycle before being discharged to waste.
CONSUMER or CUSTOMER. Any of the owner, official custodian, user or person in control of any premise supplied by or in any manner connected to a public water supply system.
CONSUMER'S WATER SYSTEM. Any water system located on the customer's premises. A building plumbing system is considered to be a customer's water system, as is the service connection (exclusive of the b-box, corporation stop, and the meter).
CONTAMINATION. An impairment of the quality of the water by entrance of any substance to a degree which could create a health hazard.
CORPORATION STOP. A shutoff valve attached to a service connection from a water main to a building (often installed near the curb), which may be operated by a valve key to start or stop flow in the water-supply lines of a building. Also called CURB STOP.
COUNTY. Lake County, Illinois.
CROSS-CONNECTION. Any physical connection or arrangement between at least two otherwise separate piping systems, one of which contains public water supply system water and the other a substance of unknown or questionable safety or quality, whereby there may be a flow from one system into the other. DIRECT CROSS-CONNECTION means a cross-connection formed when a water system is physically joined to a source of unknown or unsafe substance. INDIRECT CROSS-CONNECTION means a cross-connection through which an unknown substance can be forced, drawn by vacuum or otherwise introduced into a safe public water system.
CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL DEVICE INSPECTOR (CCCDI). A licensed plumber who is certified by the Agency and in accordance with Illinois Plumbing License Law, 225 ILCS 320/3(1) to inspect cross-connection control devices.
DIRECTOR. The Director of the Lake County Public Works Department or his or her duly authorized representative.
DOUBLE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY. An assembly composed of single, independently acting check valves approved under ASSE Standard 1015 and authorized under the Illinois Plumbing Code. A DOUBLE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY must include tight shutoff valves located at each end of the assembly and suitable connections for testing the water-tightness of each check valve.
ENGINEERING SUPERVISOR. The manager of the Engineering Division of the Public Works Department.
EASEMENT. An acquired legal right for the specific use of land owned by others.
FEDERAL ACT. The Federal 1996 Safe Drinking Water Acts Amendments, and any amendments hereto.
FIXED PROPER AIR GAP. The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the water discharge point and the flood level rim of the receptacle.
HEALTH HAZARD. Any condition, device or practice in a water system or its operation resulting from a real or potential danger to the health and well-being of consumers. The word "severe" as used to qualify HEALTH HAZARD means a hazard to the health of the user that could be expected to result in death or significant reduction in the quality of life.
INSPECTION. A plumbing inspection to examine all materials, fixtures, piping and appurtenances, appliances and installations of a plumbing system for compliance with requirements of the Illinois Plumbing Code 77 Ill. Adm. Code 890.
MILLIGRAMS PER LITER. A unit of the concentration of water constituent. It is 0.001 g of the constituent in 1,000 ml of water. It has replaced the unit formerly used commonly, parts per million, to which it is approximately equivalent, in reporting the results of water analysis.
NON-POTABLE WATER. Water not safe for drinking, personal, or culinary use as determined by the requirements of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 604.
ORDINANCE. This chapter.
PERMIT FEES. The charge or charges composed of connection fees, inspection fees, and meter fees.
PERSON. Any and all persons, natural or artificial including any individual, firm, company, municipal or private corporation, association, society, institution, enterprise, governmental agency or other entity.
pH. The intensity of the acid or base condition of a solution, calculated by taking the logarithm (base 10) of the reciprocal of the hydrogen-ion concentration expressed by one of the procedures outlined in the IEPA Division of Laboratories Manual of Laboratory Methods.
PLUMBING. The actual installation, repair, maintenance, alteration or extension of a plumbing system by any person. PLUMBING includes all piping, fixtures, appurtenances and appliances for a supply of water for all purposes, from the source of a private water supply on the premises or from the main in the street, alley or at the curb to, within and about any building or buildings where a person or persons live, work or assemble. PLUMBING includes all piping, from discharge of pumping units to and including pressure tanks in water supply systems. PLUMBING includes all piping, fixtures, appurtenances, and appliances for a building drain and a sanitary drainage and related ventilation system of any building or buildings where a person or persons live, work or assemble from the point of connection to such building drain to the building sewer or private sewage disposal system five feet beyond the foundation walls.
POLLUTION. The presence of any foreign substance (organic, inorganic, radiological, or biological) in water that tends to degrade its quality so as to constitute a hazard or impair the usefulness of the water.
POTABLE WATER. Water which meets the requirements of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 604 for drinking, culinary, and domestic purposes.
POTENTIAL CROSS-CONNECTION. A fixture or appurtenance with threaded hose connection, tapered spout, or other connection which would facilitate extension of the water supply line beyond its legal termination point.
PROCESS FLUID(S). Any fluid or solution which may be chemically, biologically or otherwise contaminated or polluted in a form or concentration such as would constitute a health, pollution, or system hazard if introduced into the public or a consumer's potable water system. This includes but is not limited to:
(a) Polluted or contaminated waters;
(b) Process waters;
(c) Used waters originating from the public water supply system which may have deteriorated in sanitary quality;
(d) Cooling waters;
(e) Questionable or contaminated natural waters taken from wells, lakes, streams, or irrigation systems;
(f) Chemicals in solution or suspension;
(g) Oils, gases, acids, alkalis and other liquid gaseous fluids used in industrial or other processes, or for firefighting purposes.
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY. All mains, pipes and structures through which water is obtained and distributed to the public, including wells and well structures, intakes and cribs, pumping stations, treatment plants, reservoirs, storage tanks and appurtenances, collectively or severally, actually used or intended for use for the purpose of furnishing water for drinking or general domestic use and which serve at least 15 service connections or which regularly serve as least 25 persons at least 60 days per year. A PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY is either a "community water supply" or a "non-community water supply."
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. The Lake County Public Works Department and persons under the direction or supervision of the Director.
RATE ORDINANCE. The ordinance(s) or other official action(s) that the approving authority may adopt from time-to-time setting forth rate, charges, and other costs or expenses (including without limitation fines and penalties) to be imposed, charged, or assessed in connection with water service from the water facilities.
REDUCED PRESSURE ZONE DEVICE (RPZ). A device containing a minimum of two independently acting check valves together with an automatically operated pressure differential relief valve located between the two check valves and approved under ASSE Standard 1013. During normal flow and at the cessation of normal flow, the pressure between these two checks shall be less than the supply pressure. In case of leakage of either check valve, the differential relief valve, by discharging to the atmosphere, shall operate to maintain the pressure between the check valves at less than the supply pressure. The unit includes tightly closing shutoff valves located at each end of the device, and each device shall be fitted with properly located test cocks.
Service connection means the opening, including all fittings and appurtenances, at the water main through which water is supplied to the user.
STATE ACT. The Illinois Anti-Pollution Bond Act of 1970, and any amendments thereto.
STATE LOAN. The State of Illinois participation in the financing of the construction of water works as provided for by the Illinois State Act and for making such loans as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Illinois.
SURVEY. The collection of information pertaining to a customer's piping system regarding the location of all connections to the public water supply system and must include the location, type and most recent inspection and testing date of all cross-connection control devices and methods located within that customer's piping system.
SYSTEM HAZARD. A condition through which an aesthetically objectionable or degrading material not dangerous to health may enter the public water supply system or a consumer's potable water system.
USED WATER. Any water supplied by a public water supply system to a consumer's water system after it has passed through the service connection and is no longer under the control of the water supply official custodian.
USEPA. The United States Environmental Protection Agency.
WATER FACILITIES. The public water system of the county and any or all of its component parts.
WATER PURVEYOR. The owner or official custodian of a public water system.
WATER SERVICE CHARGE. The charge periodically levied on all users of the water facilities in accordance with the current Rate Ordinance. The service charge may be established and changed from time-to-time by action of the approving authority. A WATER SERVICE CHARGE may also be referred to as a USER FEE.
WATER SERVICE CONNECTION CHARGE. The charge or charges assessed on customers newly connecting, changing use or enlarging an existing connection to the water facilities, which charge may be established and changed from time-to-time by action of the approving authority. A WATER SERVICE CONNECTION CHARGE may also be referred to as a CONNECTION FEE.
(Ord. 19-1394, passed 9-10-2019)